Beyond His Gilded Cage

thing I had never done befor

massive mahogany desk. It was his favorite piece, a gift from his estranged fa

lf on the other side of his office. It was a tiny act of rebellion, a quiet "no" i

I w

t. He threw his briefcase onto a chair, barking orders at his executive assistant over the p

le

on the bookshelf. His jaw tightened. He ended his call witho

he asked, his voi

said, my vo

h step deliberate and me

Wh

over there," I said, my he

inch. The slap wasn' t hard, but it was sharp, a c

ine, "ever touch my things again. You are my

a possessive fury that was terrifyingly familiar

beautiful in a dress that cost more than my first car. She looked from Leo'

gliding into the room. "I

ightly, but he didn' t let go. "

en back to my face. She was a socialite, a vapid It-girl Leo had been se

t with anger. He finally released me, shoving me slig

al. A clear stat

ess, followed me. "Oh, be a dear and get me an oat milk lat

draped herself over Leo' s desk, her laughter like tinkling glass. He was punishing me, showing me how easily I could be replac

He wanted jealousy, tears

ldn' t

tem' s interface, wh

ment Value:

otional provocation.

is suffering was not meaningless. It was the price of a ticket home. Every insult from Sienna, every cold look fro

she paused in front of me. Leo

e picked you up out of some gutter. You must be very grateful." She looked me up and down, her ey

I just looked at h

ction seemed to infuriate her more

' s mine now," she his

nt office. I was nothing to her. A piece of furniture to be replaced. An

lty was my